Rise Against Hunger India builds rural cadres for community transformation

Rise Against Hunger India is building a grassroots cadre of rural community workers, called “Gram Sathis”, to drive community-led development and advance its Hunger-Free Village (HFV) initiative across multiple states.

As part of efforts to strengthen its rural interventions, the organisation recently conducted a four-day training and orientation programme for “Gram Sathis” and volunteers. The first phase, held in Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, brought together around 80 participants and focused on equipping them with knowledge and tools for effective grassroots implementation.

“Gram Sathis are proactive community workers who were earlier associated with the organisation as volunteers and have since contributed to conceptualising and supporting solutions for their villages,” said Mr. Dola Mohapatra, CEO, Rise Against Hunger India. Now formally designated as Gram Sathis, they represent a growing network of rural leaders working towards sustainable development and food security, he added.

Participants in the training were from Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh, where the organisation’s interventions are currently concentrated.

The sessions covered the organisation’s vision and approach, the Hunger-Free Village model, organisational policies, community mobilisation strategies, and Management Information Systems (MIS).

“Participants engaged with the concept of Hunger-Free Villages, an approach that goes beyond immediate food relief to address systemic causes of food insecurity,” Mr. Mohapatra said. Discussions focused on five thematic areas and 12 vision statements, underscoring the role of awareness, local systems and collective action in achieving long-term food and nutrition security, he added.

The programme included quizzes and group discussions to encourage engagement and peer learning.

As part of field immersion, participants visited operational areas in Bastar and Dantewada, where they interacted with beneficiaries and observed ongoing interventions. They also took part in community meetings and field-level activities, gaining first-hand insights into implementation challenges.

Rise Against Hunger India said it is expanding the network by onboarding around 60 Gram Sathis and over 200 community volunteers. They will not just be doing Rise Against Hunger India projects, but they will be the social change makers to lead their community through the process of self-reliance. 

Emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions, the organisation said addressing hunger and malnutrition requires a long-term, community-driven approach rather than short-term relief measures. The Hunger-Free Village initiative aims to build nutritionally secure, resilient and self-reliant communities.